Selection of WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism 2020 by Experts in Beijing

On May 21, the selection of WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism 2020 by experts kicked off in Beijing. Poverty reduction has always been a key topic that is of global concern. The year 2020 will be a decisive year in China’s battle against poverty. As an international tourism organization, the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) has always taken “tourism for poverty alleviation” as one of its important missions and continued to facilitate the global cause of poverty reduction through its own platform and strength.

For two consecutive years – in 2018 and 2019, WTA, in partnership with the World Bank and the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC), has released the WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism and collected a total of 59 typical practices worldwide, showing models of poverty alleviation through tourism and spreading experience. That has attracted extensive attention of the global tourism. Based on this, WTA cooperated with China Global Television Network (CGTN) under China Media Group to shoot a video entitled “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World”. It’s a record about the best practices in poverty alleviation through tourism, showing the international community China’s achievements in poverty reduction through tourism. On September 27, 2019, WTA held the “Roadshow of Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism in China” and the “Picture Exhibition on Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism in China” in Rome, Italy, headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). During these events, WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism and the video entitled “Better Tourism, Better Life, Better World” were shared, receiving high recognition from the ambassadors of each country to FAO and guests present. WTA has become one of the important leaders in the global tourism industry to advocate poverty reduction through tourism and the sense of responsibility.

In March 2020, WTA joined hands with the World Bank and IPRCC to launch the campaign of soliciting WTA Best Practice in Poverty Alleviation Through Tourism 2020. The event has been highly valued and strongly supported by WTA members worldwide and the cultural and tourism authorities at all levels in China. A large number of best practices in poverty alleviation through tourism have been collected at home and abroad through various channels including relevant international organizations, the Poverty Alleviation Office of the State Council, WTA members worldwide and provincial-level tourism departments. The selection meeting, attended by the experts in the industry, was led by WTA, the World Bank and IPRCC. The panel discussed and deliberated on the best practices of solicitation and selection criteria. Based on the principles of fairness, justice and openness, they select the best practices in poverty alleviation through tourism in line with the criteria such as poverty reduction effect, innovation, replicability, social impact, sustainability and regionality.

All selected best practices will be compiled into a book in both Chinese and English, and the final results are to be released at WTA·Xianghu Dialogue in Hangzhou in early November 2020.